Maritime Propulsion News

Finnish marine propulsion provider Steerprop has secured a contract with Karstensens Skibsværft to supply a complete ice-class propulsion package for a Multi-Role Environmental Vessel being built for the Royal Danish Navy.The vessel is one of four commissioned by the Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation to strengthen Denmark's marine environmental response and defense capabilities. The program is being delivered by Orlogsskibe Danmark, a consortium comprising OSK Design…

SKF opened its new Ceramic Process Laboratory (C-Pro Lab) at its R&D Centre in Houten, The Netherlands. This capability strengthens SKF’s technology leadership across the complete ceramic manufacturing value chain, from raw material powder processing to high-performance component engineering, boosting the global adoption of advanced hybrid bearing technology.“Ceramic and hybrid bearing technologies are essential enablers for clean and reliable rotation in next-generation industrial electrical applications. The C-Pro Lab enables full mastery over the end-to-end ceramic process.

Steerprop was selected to supply its next-generation contra-rotating propeller (CRP) technology for Estonia's first fully electric passenger ferry, currently under construction at Poland's CRIST SA shipyard.The 95-meter ferry, designed by LMG Marin for the Estonian State Fleet, will feature two Steerprop SP 25 CRP units equipped with permanent magnet motors. The propulsion system is designed to deliver high thrust and improved efficiency in both open water and ice conditions.Steerprop's CRP configuration uses two contra-rotating propellers on a single shaftline…

HamiltonJet appointed Sam Hamilton as Chairman of its Board of Directors. Sam is the great-grandson of founder Sir Bill Hamilton, and his appointment makes him the fourth generation of the Hamilton family to lead the company.The handover took place at an extraordinary meeting of the Board, held at Irishman Creek Station in the Mackenzie Basin in the South Island of New Zealand. The station is where Bill Hamilton began the business in 1939, and it is where the company's first annual general meeting was held in 1946.Sam succeeds his father…

Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract with IWS Fleet, a subsidiary of Integrated Wind Solutions (IWS), to provide vessel design and integrated technology systems for four new commissioning service operation vessels (CSOVs) intended for offshore wind operations.Kongsberg Maritime's scope includes electrical power systems, navigation and bridge systems, propulsion, deck machinery, dynamic positioning systems and overall system integration.Each vessel will feature a double-ended design with four rim-drive azimuth thrusters…

Maritime Partners has added the M/V Ann Nash to its growing fleet. Built by FMT Shipyard & Repair in Harvey, Louisiana, the vessel continues the successful working relationship between Maritime Partners, FMT Shipyard & Repair, and Laborde Products in delivering towboats for inland marine service.The MN Ann Nash measures 52.5 feet in length overall with a 19.6-foot beam and a 3.3-foot draft. The vessel is configured with a twin-screw propulsion system powered by two Mitsubishi S62 Tier 3 engines, each rated at 803 horsepower at 1,400 RPM, for a combined 1,600 horsepower.

Defense Maritime Solutions, Inc. (DMS), an equipment manufacturer and supplier of shipboard propulsion and auxiliary systems, announced plans to invest more than $30 million to expand its operations in Chesapeake, Virginia.The investment is expected to create 32 new jobs and establish U.S. based capabilities for the manufacturing, assembly, integration, testing, finishing, packaging, and lifecycle support of Wärtsilä medium-speed engines for marine purposes. The added capabilities are intended to improve domestic maritime supply-chain resilience…

ABB will supply the integrated power and propulsion system for Grand Tour, a new 230-meter semi-submersible heavy transport vessel being built by Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) for offshore contractor Allseas.Scheduled for delivery in 2028, Grand Tour is designed to transport large offshore wind converter stations from fabrication facilities in Asia and Europe and transfer them directly to Allseas’ heavy construction vessel Pioneering Spirit for offshore installation.Converter stations play a central role in long-distance offshore wind power transmission…

Swedish marine propulsion technology company Berg Propulsion has secured a contract to supply propulsion packages for six 7,000-dwt multi-purpose dry cargo vessels being built by Jiangsu Dajin Heavy Industry in China for UK shipowner and operator Carisbrooke Shipping.The six vessels, designed by Dutch naval architecture firm Groot Ship Design, are scheduled for delivery between the third quarter of 2027 and the first quarter of 2029.Measuring 110 meters in length and 15.45 meters in breadth…

For inland towboat operators, engine selection is rarely about chasing the newest technology. Reliability, uptime, serviceability and lifecycle cost remain the metrics that matter most. Caterpillar Marine's new C32B engine is a 1,000-hp platform designed specifically with the demands of continuous-duty commercial operations in mind.While the C32B’ss origins can be traced to Caterpillar's pursuit of higher power density in the yacht and sportfishing markets, the end result may ultimately deliver its greatest value to towboat operators working the Mississippi River system.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) identified a safety concern after a prototype component used in a mechanical shaft-seal system failed onboard a USCG inspected deep draft vessel.On February 19, 2025, a U.S. flagged crude-oil tanker transiting near Delaware Bay experienced simultaneous failures of its port and starboard shaft seals, resulting in substantial seawater ingress.The crew deployed emergency collars supplied by the seal manufacturer and used the vessel’s emergency bilge system…

Equipment OEMs are securing their position in the data pipeline from ship to shore.Crews are becoming increasingly reliant on digital support as onboard systems become more complex and demands for emissions reduction more stringent. OEMs are choosing where they want to fit in the flow of sensor data coming out of ships and the provision of support and troubleshooting back in.“Across sensors, IT/OT architecture, communications and cloud analytics, the baseline for digital monitoring has shifted from periodic data capture and alarm lists to always-on…

Schottel is expanding its international network with the establishment of a new subsidiary in India. With Schottel India Sales and Service Private Limited, the German propulsion company is further strengthening its presence in a rapidly developing maritime market and creating the basis to deepen collaboration with local customers and partners. Based in Pune, the new subsidiary will focus on newbuild and retrofit sales as well as after-sales service, enabling Schottelto provide responsive…

Berg Propulsion has reorganized its leadership structure as part of a planned transition aimed at supporting the company’s long-term growth strategy.Philip Chaabane had assumed the role of chief executive officer (CEO) at the company, effective May 1, while Stefan Sedersten would remain executive chairman focusing on growth initiatives.Berg Propulsion also moved Jon Töyrä from chief financial officer (CFO) to chief operating officer (COO) with overall responsibility for operations…

Berg Propulsion has been contracted to supply the propulsion and control systems for four diesel-electric, firefighting offshore support tugs which will be the most powerful vessels of their type ever built in Türkiye.The vessels have been ordered by Smit Lamnalco from builder Uzmar Shipyard and will initially operate in French Guyana, with Berg due to deliver equipment for the first in the series in November 2026. All four tugs will feature bollard pull (bp) capacities exceeding 130 tons…

ABB has secured a contract from Spanish shipbuilder Navantia to supply power distribution and propulsion systems for two new coastal hydrographic vessels being built for the Spanish Navy.The vessels, scheduled for delivery by 2028, will be equipped with ABB’s Onboard DC Grid power system, PEMS power and energy management system, transformers, thruster motors and batteries.The systems are designed to improve energy efficiency, operational flexibility and reliability while reducing fuel consumption and emissions.ABB will also oversee engineering…

Kongsberg Maritime has won a contract from Austal USA to supply propulsion systems for the next four vessels in the United States Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Cutter Heritage Class program.The contract covers delivery of Kongsberg Maritime’s Promas propulsion system, as well as steering gear, rudders, fin stabilisers and tunnel thrusters for the vessels.The Offshore Patrol Cutter program is expected to include up to 25 ships and is designed to replace the Coast Guard’s medium…

Germany-based gearbox manufacturer REINTJES is expanding its global after-sales capabilities with the establishment of a dedicated spare parts warehouse at its headquarters in Hameln, Germany, a move aimed at strengthening service support for its international customer base.The long-established company, known for supplying high-performance marine and industrial gearboxes, designs and manufactures its products in Hameln before shipping them to shipowners, operators and industrial clients around the world.

ABS, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and HD Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HD HSHI) signed a joint development project (JDP) for the “Conceptual Design of a Nuclear-Powered Electric Propulsion System.”Under the agreement, HD KSOE and HD HSHI will develop the basic design, electrical component specifications and arrangement plans for a nuclear-powered electric propulsion system tailored for container ships. The agreement forms a framework to assess the technical…

GONDAN Shipbuilders placed an order with Steerprop for hybrid-capable azimuth units to be installed on a new high-performance tugboat, the first tug design from naval architect Skipsteknisk, for Norwegian shipowner Østensjø Rederi. Steerprop will supply dual-end versions of its SP 50 W D propulsors — the most powerful ducted units it has ever delivered — providing the vessel with the flexibility to operate main propulsion using a diesel engine, an electric motor, or a combination of both.

Caudwell Marine hosted an industry launch briefing for the AX300 Diesel Outboard alongside its participation in the Maldives Marine Expo.The Maldives is characterized by high-utilization fleets, long daily run hours and year-round exposure to heat, saltwater and heavy operational loads. These conditions closely mirror the duty cycles the AX300 Diesel has been engineered to address.The AX300 Diesel has been developed specifically for professional and commercial operators who depend on predictable performance, efficiency and uptime over sustained duty cycles.

GE Aerospace's Marine Engines & Systems has received orders to supply eight LM2500 marine gas turbine engines for the U.S. Navy's next two Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers: the future USS Intrepid (DDG 145) and USS Robert Kerrey (DDG 146). Each destroyer is powered by four LM2500 engines, providing the proven propulsion power that has made the Arleigh Burke class the backbone of the U.S. Navy's surface fleet for over three decades.As of January 2025, 74 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are active with GE Aerospace’s LM2500 engines being the prime mover for propulsion.

Thordon Bearings, a leader in high-performance polymer bearing systems, has steadily carved out a niche in the global marine industry with its eco-friendly water-lubricated bearings. Unlike traditional oil or grease-based bearings, Thordon’s systems operate entirely on water, eliminating the risk of harmful pollution in marine environments. Over the years, the company has expanded its reach, offering substantial advantages to the commercial shipping, naval, and workboat markets…